Device for holding screen and storm windows



July 29, 1952 D. o. sx-:AMAN

DEVICE FOR HOLDING SCREEN AND STORM WINDOWS Filed Sept. 7, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 July 29, 1952 D. o. SEAMAN DEVICE FOR HOLDINGL'SCRWAND STORM w1Nnow's` Filed sept. 7, 194% 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2' Patented July 29, 1952 DEVICE I'ORHSELDING SCREEN AND STORM 'WINDWS Delbert 0. Seaman, DeaMoinea'Iowa App'licationseptember 7, 1948,"Seria'l No. 48,041

1 YCia-im. 01.:- zii- 55) 1 Y The-principal. object of 'myinvention is to 'provide a means for successfully holding feither a screen window or storm window to-a window frame.

Vfurther object of `this inmention'is'to` proi vide a -screen and storm window holding means that permits the -easy and quick removal or 'replacement of the screen or storm windowwithout the -use of tools.

A still further object oi my inventionfis to provide alscreen, storm* window, or'ilike holding meansfthat may bei-nstaIIedYon window frames already in use.

A--stifll further vobject of 'this invention lis to Iprov-ide a' screen and storm window holding means that permits the placement or lremoval of-the screen or storm'window-lbythe user `from ya' `point insideI the building, thereby eliminating the-dangerous use of outside -lladders uand. like.

A still further obirect of my invention' vis to proyideafstorm window construction -thatpermits `:the limited vopening of the f storm lwindow that is durable `v in'use, economicall in `manufacture; and refined inV appearance.

These and other objects Willbe' apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention Vconsists `in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the various parts of the device,1 whereby lthe l'objectscontemplated :are attained as hereinafter more fully set `forth,

pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, .in which:`

Fig. 1 .is an outside perspective view of a storm window being held by` my means.

FigfZ'is a longitudinal vvertical sectional view of my construction taken on line 2-2 ofFi'g. l and more fully Villustratesits construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged Across-sectionalview` of a portion of Vmyrconstruction taken onlineI 3 3 offFg. 1.1

lFig.Y 4'isan inside `view of my device taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my construction, similar to Fig. 2, but with the frame holding a screen instead of a storm window.

One of the most objectionable tasks is the periodical changing of storm windows to screens 2 i in the spring vand rthe vchanging Aofthe screens. `to `storni windows in the'fa'll. The work has tofbe done outside :the building and usually on a ladder. In this connection many accidents do occui-,as

tools are usually necessary to complete the installation. Many people hire some one skilled in the art to do the work. Furthermore, after the storm windows ar-e installed the user can not open them if theloccasion. makes such opening desirable. I have overcome such objections as will'hereinafter be appreciated.

Referring to thev drawings I have used: the numeral IU `to generally `designate. an ordinary window opening frame. Such frames hold a glass window, not shown in the drawings. Obviously, such window frames are common in `most all buildings, and it is to such a window frame that I attach my screen and storm Vwindow holding means. Storm windows and screens are'interchangeable and have the usual rectangular frame II. Ii' the item be a storm Window, the frame I I will have-a glass I2, as shown in Fig. 1. On the yother hand, fthe litem is a screen, the frame yII will beenclosed withL a lscreen wire mesh I3.

lIn Veither event, vthe frame II will be common and'has its marginal edges capable of fitting into the usually prepared opening of the window frame IB, and to the outerside of the glass window the frame I' usually supports. On the outside of the window frame and overlapping its two opening corners,vrespectively, I install two bracket housing members 'I4 and I5, as shown 2in Fig. 1. While vthese twofltirackets are pairs, they are not duplicates, 'as vone-'must be to theleft side, andthe other =mustbe to tl'ieright side. They are secured by any lsuitable means` suchfas by screws, nails, bolts or like I6. The front-.side of each of these brackets extends downwardly and outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. Also 4each bracket member vhas its outer side I'I closed and-its inner side IBonly partially closed, inasmuch `as `its lower marginal edge extends downwardly and forwardly, as shown in'Fig. '2. This construction `permitsthe upper end ofthe frame II to -be inserted finto `the window frame and under the overlapping bracket members, with the lower end of the frame extending Aoutwardly from .themain window, as s'hownby dotted lines in Fig. `2. 'Inside each bracket I mount a-curved vertical 'leaf Cspring 'I9 fastened at one end to the underside of its bracket member, as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement when a frame II is placed into the window frame a spring I9 will be yieldingly bearing on each outer upper corner of the screen or storm window frame II. This yielding contact will permit the ready removal or replacement of a frame I I, but will prevent any accidental movement of the upper end of the frame outwardly from the main window frame III. By the outer side of the brackets being closed and positioned just outside the side planes of the frame II, the frame I I will be properly positioned, for its upper end portion to be guided into the window frame opening. If the frame II carries a screen, as shown in Fig. 5, the lower end portion is pulled or forced into the window opening, and hooks fastened to the main window frame are detachably hooked into screw eyes 2I on the frame II. By this means the top of the frame II will be held in place by the spring bracket elements and the lower end of the frame will be held by the hooks 20 and eyes 2I. To remove the frame II it is merely necessary to unhook the hooks 2U, push the lower portion of the frame I I outwardly, and then lower the frame from the bracket members. The frame I I is just as easily replaced. No tools or special skill are required. The removal or replacement of the frame takes but a moments time. In the case of a screen, no further mechanism is required or desired. In the case of storm windows, however, there are times when the user wishes to open the storm window a limited amount. Therefore, at each side of the main window frame I secure at its upper end a coil spring 22, as shown in Fig. 4. Secured to the lower end of each spring is a chain, cable or like ilexible element 23. Imposed in the chain or like and near its lower end -is a holed tab 24, capable of being placed around a downwardly extending hook on the inner side of the frame I I, as shown in Fig. 4. These tabs 24 and hooks 25 are so positioned that the springs will be under tension when they are fastened together'. By this construction the frame I I will be yieldingly held upwardly, even though the lower end of the frame is pushed outwardly from the window frame I0, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. If it is desired to maintain this position of the window frame I I, I have provided elongated hooksV 26 secured to the main window frame and capable of entering screw eyes 21 on the frame I I, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Obviously, the springs 22 and chains 23 will hold the frame I I upwardly within the bracket members and these hooks and eyes 26 and 2l will hold the lower portion of the frame outwardly a limited distance, thereby permitting air to pass into the window. When it is desired to close the storm window it is merely necessary to unhook the hooks 26 and the springs will return the frame I I to a closed position. When the tabs are engaging the hooks 25, the springs 22 will also yieldingly hold the frame II from rattling and this is true whether the storm window is open or closed. A guard shield 28 may be placed above each of the screw eyes to insure against the accidental detachment of the hooks 26. When the frame II is in closed position the hooks 2u should be inserted in the screw eyes 2|. In the case of screens and at other times, it will not be necessary to employ the springs 22 and chains 23. When this is the case the tabs 24 are detached from the hooks 25 and then attached to neutral hooks 29 on the main window frame, as shown in Fig. 5. A handle 30 may be placed on the lower portion of frame Il to facilitate its handling. A chain 3l may also be installed on the main frame I8 below each of the springs 22. In case of double sash windows the fastening of the upper ends of the springs 22 should be at a point below the upper frame of the lower window when the lower window is in closed position, and the hooks 25 and 29 should be relocated accordingly. The stop guides 3l also limit the downward movement of the coil springs 22 so that after the coil springs have been completely extended to this limit the weight of the frame II when open at the bottom will be supported substantially by the members 3l.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my device for holding screen and storm windows without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included in its scope.

I claim:

In combination, a detachable frame, a window frame having an opening for receiving the detachable frame, two spaced apart rigid brackets secured to the window frame; said rigid brackets each having a portion that extends below the top plane of the detachable frame receiving opening of the window frame, a resilient means in each of said brackets exerting solely an inward force against the top portion of said detachable frame, an elongated resilient means secured at its ends to the window frame and detachably secured to the detachable frame respectively; said elongated resilient means being secured to the window frame at a point substantially above its point of attachment to the detachable frame; and the points of attachment of said elongated resilient means being spaced farther apart than the constricted length of saidr elongated resilient means; said elongated resilient means being secured to the window frame at a point spaced inwardly from the innermost portion of the opening in the window frame for receiving the detachable frame; whereby said bracket members positively limit the outward movement of the upper end of said detachable frame with respect to said window frame, and whereby said elongated resilient means yieldingly holds one side of the detachable frame upwardly and one side of the lower end of the detachable frame inwardly.

DELBERT O. SEAMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Leacy Feb. 22, 1944 

